NOTE: some things below may not be understood by those who do not watch/read the anime/manga. Since this is a Group Information, I have no duties to summarize the story. I will however, one day set up a review for the series.

BACKGROUND / HISTORYUchiha Madara and Nagato have both claimed to be the founders of Akatsuki. Regardless of whoever created the organization, however, it is rumored that the group was first formed in Kirigakura, thus leading many villages to blame Kirigakure for Akatsuki's actions.

Uchiha Itachi joined the Akatsuki before carrying out the Uchiha Clan Massacre for which he was defected from his village. Orochimaru, having already his lust for power at this time, sought to take over Itachi's body. Upon failing, Orochimaru immediately left the organization. To replace him, Akatsuki recruited Deidara with Itachi doing most of the work for Deidara to agree on doing so.

At first, Akatsuki was a mercenary group for hire. Many villages hired Akatsuki to fight in wars, spy on enemies, or carry out assassinations. To this regard, Fourth Raikage claims that only Kumogakure has never used Akatsuki's services.

Soon, the group eventually began capturing the tailed beasts, in the process antagonizing many of its former clients. During the attempts at capturing the jinchuriki of the tailed beasts, many Akatsuki members died or were incapacitated. Sasori, who fought with his grandmother, the Suna elder Chiyo, and Haruno Sakura, died during their fight. Uchiha Madara, as Tobi, replaces him. Hidan is fully incapacitated by Nara Shikamaru during their fight while Kakuzu is killed with the finishing blow by Hatake Kakashi. Both Deidara and Uchiha Itachi die at the hands of Uchiha Sasuke.

After learning the truth of his brother, Sasuke and his team, Taka, joins the Akatsuki as well. Then, Nagato and Konan are sent to attack Konoha and capture Uzumaki Naruto. However, Naruto was able to change their views on peace. Nagato ended up sacrificing his life to resurrect all that he has killed. Konan, on the other hand, offered a token of friendship to Naruto and left for Amegakure. She has voiced out her alliance with Naruto, saying that she believes in Nagato's choice of trusting him so she will trust him too along with the rest of Amegakure with her.

At the same time, Sasuke is tasked with capturing the Eight-Tails, but he fails too. Akatsuki's actions finally provoke a response from the ninja villages, who hold a Kage Summit to discuss Akatsuki. Madara, wishing to accelerate his plans, infiltrates the meeting and declares war against the great nations, promising to use the seven tailed beasts Akatsuki has already captured in battle. The villages and their associated countries form a Shinobi Alliance to combat Akatsuki, beginning the Fourth Great Shinobi World War.

CLOTHINGAll Akatsuki members wear long, dark cloaks with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar. In the case of Taka, they have hoods instead of a high collar. All members wear nail polish of varying colors on their fingers and toenails, and may or may notwear a conical straw hat with small spike-like balls hanging down to cover their faces. Some members wear their village forehead protector with a slash across to symbolize the broken ties with their former villages, while others cease wearing them entirely. Everyone also wears a ring, each member with varying kanji.

GOALAkatsuki's main general goal is to achieve World Domination. In accordance to this goal, they also aim to capture all of the nine tailed beasts. Their plan is to move out in pairs of two and each pair will capture an assigned jinchuriki. These tailed beasts would be their help in their goal of world domination. However, as proved by Hidan's case, not all members learn of the organization's goals immediately upon joining.